A lot of cocktail recipes recommend you use a citrus peel as a garnish, both for flavor and aroma. Here’s a way to turn that garnish into something truly exciting for your party guests.

In this video from The Cocktail Chemistry YouTube channel, you’ll learn why citrus peel is such an ideal garnish for mixed drinks and how to apply it with a little showmanship. When you squeeze a citrus peel the right way, citrus oil shoots out and adds an extra dimension of flavor to cocktails. Limonene, the main chemical compound found in citrus oils, is highly flammable. You probably know where this is going... If you hold the citrus peel in one hand, and a match or lighter in the other, you can express the oil into the cocktail and put on a fiery show for your guests. This will also caramelize the oils and leave a nice sweet and citrusy aroma on top of the drink.